Fruit pitting device with vibratory pitting means



June 11, 1935. A, R THOMP'SQN 2,004,301

FRUIT FITTING DEVICE WITH VIBRATORY FITTING MEANS Filed dan. 2B, 1955 q2 sheets-sht 1 Inventar e By MM Altarnzys June 11, 1935, A, R, THOMPSON 2,004,301

Y FRUIT FITTING DEVICE WITH VIBRATORY FITTING MEANS Filed Jan. 28, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

v nvenvtor Www/5m [UNITED STATES PATE Patented June 11, 1935 OFFICE' 'i l: This invention relates to fruit pitting devices `for vvibratory pitting means, and more particularly to a fruit pitting device or machine inwhich there is provided means for imparting `a vibratory or-'foscillatorymotion tothe pitting means in order-to aid the pitting means in passing over obstructions such as the fins of the pit without hanging up thereon. This invention relates particularly to animprovement in fruitpitters specically set forth anddescribed in my fco-jpend-f ingr` application for Fruit pitter, led June2`6v, 1931, Serial No. 546,958@` i 4 r`In the operation of fruit pitters it has hereto` forebeen knownthat in pitting devices the imparting tothe pitting means of an oscillatory e motion in an arcuate pathfollowing substantially the curvature of the pitting knife that a more effectiveremoval ofthe pit would be provided,`

and that the `imparting of the oscillatory or V`` bratory motion to the pitting blade or knife would enable the pitting `knife to pass `overthe obstruction or ns of 1 a peach pit, for example,

without causing the knife to hang up or catch e l i structure as illustrated in Figure 2.V

e upon such obstructions. e

I have found that in many forms of pitting machines such `as that illustrated in my co-pending application heretofore referred to, that because of i the particular construction of the L pitting means it has not lbeen deemed practical to incorporate in such a machine an oscillatory4 pitting knife where theknife isoscillated in a direction following substantiallythe curvature ofthe pit-` ting knife. 1 i

A'IKfhave also found that the removal of :the pit "l from a fruit may be more effectively accomplished by imparting to the pitting knife a` vibratoryo oscillatory' motion in the direction `of the shank ofthe knife or the axis of rotation of the knife" in that theshearing action accomplishedby such vibratory action is more effectual in themaking of acle'an cut of the pit from the fruit and in that the knife is of a structure which permits yield ing,that theyieldingl action of theA knife when accompanied with the vibratory action thereof "permitsthe knife to pass more closely around the fiesh' of the fruit and't more elfectively pass over obstructions and the fins of the fruit pit without hanging up on such obstructionsor fins.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a fruit pitting device in which there is provided a vibratory pitting means in which the pitting means is of a yieldable construction and is provided with means for vibrating or oscillatingY the same in the direction of the axis of rotation or the pit of the fruit. e e

Another object of lmy inventionis to provide a" pitting device in which there is employed a curved yieldable pitting means which is provided with movement of `thepitting means in passing around means for rotating the'samearound the pit of the l fruit in the direction of one `of the axes of curva-gture of the pitand in whichpitting device'lmeans i y areprovided for vibrating' or oscillating the'pitl ting blade in thedirection of the axis of rotation of the pitting knife. i

Other objects andadvantages of this inventionA Aillustrated in the accompanying drawvibratory" means provided forthe pitting means.V l Figure 3 is an elevation partly section ofthe I In the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, vI haveV illustrated my invention as appliedtothe fruit co-pending application, Serial No. 546,958, filed June 26, 1931; entitled Fruit pitter. It is to be understood, however, thatiny inventionis notlim-f` ited to thespecific machine disclosed in my" copending.applicationaforesaid but may be ap-l plied to Vany desired Aform of fruit pitting apparatus."

In the application of my invention asthus illu`s l 'pitting machinesas specifically described in rnyff tratedfn the drawings, thefruit pitter is illus-` trated as' including a frame l within which, or uponY Whichfa'n impalng blade 2 is supported. Theimpalingblade 2is formed with a pit receive ing slot 3 in whicha pitting knife 4 of the' curved or arcuate type is mounted. The pitting knife il4 has oppositely extending Shanks V5i and 6 through which the pitting knife is rotated by any suitable or desirable means such, fory example, as is spe-- ciflcally disclosed in my copending` application above referred to.` The Shanks 5`-`and 6 arefsup` ported within the bearing and drive means in such manner as to permit the oscillation or vibration of the knife in the direction of the axes of the Shanks 5 and 6 on the axis around the pitting knife 4 revolves.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the drive pinions 'l which are secured to the shanks 5 and `t of the pitting knife are driven by gear segments 8 which gear segments 8 may be driven in any suitable or desirable manner as specifically illustrated in said copending application. The pinions 'I are formed so as to revolve within bearing structures 9 supported by the frame I.

In order to permit the oscillation of the pitting knife 4, the hubs of the pinions are bored as illustrated'at I0 and the Shanks 5 and E of the pitting knife are mounted within sleeve members I I mounted within these enlarged bores. In order that the pinion 'I may drive the pitting knife 4,

the Shanks of the pitting `knife are flattened as Y illustrated at I2 and I3 to provide a driving contact between the pinions 'I and the Shanks of the pitting knife.

During the oscillation the shanks of the pitting knife slide within the enlarged bores I of the pinions on the sleeve members or blocks II. In order to impart to the pitting knife 4 an oscillatory or vibratory action as it is thus rotated in the pitting recess 3 as it passes around the 'pit of the fruit impaled upon the impaling blade 2, I prefer to employ the following means:

Secured to the projecting end of the upwardly extending shank 6 of the pitting knife 4 is :a ball member I4 which ball I4 fits within a ball socket member I5 which is threaded to the threaded section I6 of an eccentric I1. This assembly is locked in position by means of a lock nut I8. By this means the eccentric is permitted to travel an arcuate path While the shank 6 of the pitting blade is held to movement vertically. y

The eccentric I1 is mounted upon an eccentrically disposed drive pin I9 formed at the end of the eccentric shaft 20. mounted within bearings 2| and 22 held in bearing brackets 23 secured to thefupper portion of the frame i. On the projecting end of the eccentric shaft there is mounted a pulley 24. The pulley 24 is driven from any suitable or desirable form of electric motor which may be mounted in any desired position, either upon the vframe I of the fruit pitter lor upon the table or disc upon which the fruit pitter maybe mounted. The eccentric shaft 20 is preferably driven between 3600 to 4000 R. P. M. so that a very rapid oscillatory or vibratory movement is imparted to the pitting knife 4 as it passes around the pit of the fruit.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set'forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fruit pitting machine, Vthe combination of a pitting knife having oppositely extending shanks, means for rotatably supporting the shanks` of the pitting knife, means for rotating the pitting knife relative to said supports, and means for reciprocating the said pitting knife with reference to said supports in the direction of its longitudinal axis as said pitting knife is rotated.

f 2. In a fruit pitting machine, the combination of a curved pitting knife having oppositely extending shanks, bearing means rotatably supporting the Shanks, means for rotating the curved pitting knife in said bearings, and means for The Shaft 2.0

vibrating the curved pitting knife with reference to the bearings in the direction of the axis of rotation of the Shanks of the pitting knife in said bearing.

3. In a fruit pitting machine, the combination of a curved pitting knife, spaced bearing means Y for rotatably supporting the curved pitting knife, means for rotating the curved pitting 'knife in said bearings, and means for vibrating the curved Vpitting knife in the direction of the axis of rotamember in a direction substantially at right angles; to the direction of vibration of the pitting mem-y,` ber around the pit of the fruit. g Y' 5. In a fruit pitting machine, the combinatio of a pitting knife having oppositely extending Shanks, means for rotatably supporting the` Shanks, an eccentric, means for connecting the eccentric with one shank of the pitting knife, and means for rotating the eccentric at a relatively high rate of speed to impart a vibratory motion to the pitting knife through the shank thereof during the rotation of the pitting knife.

6. In a fruit pitting machine, the combination of a frame, an impaling blade having a pitting recess supported by the frame upon which a fruit to be pitted is adapted to be impaled with the pit in the pitting recess, a pitting knife having oppositely disposed shanks, said pitting knife being normally supported in the plane of the pitting recess, spaced bearing means on opposed sides of said recess for rotatably supporting the pitting knife, bearing means for supporting the shanks of the pitting knife in said bearing means to permit the pitting knife to rotate within the bearings and permitting the knife to move longitudinally of the bearings, and means for imparting a rapid vibratory or oscillatory motion to the pitting knife as it is rotated.

7. In a fruit pitting machine, the combinationV of a curved pitting knife having oppositely ex-Y tending shanks, bearing means for rotatably supporting the Shanks, means for rotating the pitting knife, the Shanks of the pitting knife having driving portions formedl thereon to cooperate with the said means for rotating the pitting knife to cause the pitting knives to rotate as the means for rotating the pitting knife are actuated, an eccentric, means including a ballY and socket joint for connecting the eccentric to one of the Shanks of the pitting knife, and means for driving the eccentric at a high rate of speed to impart a vibratory motion to the pitting knife in a direction in line with the axis of rotation of the pitting knife.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON. 

